Kim Yuna began skating when she was seven. She was the youngest female ever to win the senior title at the South Korean Figure Skating Championships when she was 12 in 2003. She started competing in the Junior Grand Prix in 2004 and won silver at the season’s GP Final.

Kim Yuna won the 2005-2006 Junior Grand Prix Final and the 2006 World Junior Figure Skating Championships before making her senior international debut at the 2006 Skate Canada where she won a bronze medal. She continued to excel and won the gold medal at the 2006-2007 (Senior) Grand Prix Final.

Kim Yuna came third at the 2007 World Championships but successfully defended her title at the 2007-2008 GP Final. She again claimed the bronze medal at the 2008 World Championship, and a silver in the 2008-2009 GP Final.

Kim’s dominance began to surface in 2009, setting a world record in short program at the 4CC. She set new records in both short programs and overall score en-route to her gold medal at the 2009 World Championship – she was the first female skater to surpass 200 points under the new ISU judging system. She also won her third GP Final title in 2009-2010 season.

Kim Yuna broke the world records for both short program and free program, and a record total of 228.56 points to win the Gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. She managed a silver at the 2010 World Championship in March, but decided to withdraw from the remainder of the ISU Grand Prix season. She is named as the Sportswoman of the Year by the Women’s Sports Foundation in October 2010.

Kim Yuna is a huge celebrity in South Korea, appearing in various commercials e.g. for Samsung mobile, QUA fashion, Maeil dairy, Hyundai motors and Nike sportswear etc. (no longer contracted to some though). She’s also an ambassador for the 2010-2012 Visit Korea Year and The United Nations Children’s Fund.